Tongs



May 10, 1932. w. F. MARTIN 1,857,925

TONGS Filed May 16. 1929 INVENTOR BY/*7) {A TTORNEY Patented May 10, 1932 PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM F. MARTIN, OF MADISON, KANSAS TONGS Application filed May 16,

This invention relates to tongs particularly adapted for turning. rods, pipes, oil well tubing and oil well casing. It is par-. ticularly applicable for use in the oil fields,

Llj but obviously, it may be used for other purposes. The main object of the invention is to provide a tong which can be quickly applied and quickly detached and which will grip the pipe firmly enough to prevent slip- 10' ping of the tong. It is also the purpose of the invention to provide a tong which will be inexpensive and simple to make. 4

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent by reference to the follli lowing description in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

F ig. 1 is a perspective view of the tong as it is about to be applied to a cylindrical body.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the tong applied, parts being broken away to better illustrate certain other parts and Fig. 3 is a detailed perspective view of a modified form of gripping jaw.

The tong is shown as consisting of a shank, 5 the end of which is diverted laterally and bent back to constitute a truly hook-shaped head merging directly with the shank, the head 1 has two curved bifurcated or spaced portions 2 and 3 between which is pivoted an arcuate jaw 4, the pivot permitting free movement of the jaw in either direction. The hook-shaped head is provided with an elongated handle 7, preferably formed at its end with an eye 8 to which a cable may be fastened to operate the tongs of the larger sizes. Sometimes, the tongs are applied to oil well casing in which event it is desirable to use the power of the engine to unscrew the casing, in that event, one end of the cable can be fastened to the eye. The aw 4 is provided with an angular transverse slot or recess 9 in which is an angular die or tooth 10 having an impinging edge 11 which is adapted to bite into or impinge against the pipe12 or similar object. The opening 13 of the recess 9 is of slightly less width than the die or tooth 10 so that when the die is inserted sidewise, it will not move out through the opening 13, it being understood that the die or tooth is in the form of a short bar. The

1929. Serial No. 363,601-

firmly in place Figure l by causing the arcuate jaw to partially encircle the object to' be engaged. Then, the head will be swung in a clockwise dlrection to the position shown in Figure 2, forcing the edge 11 of the tooth 10 into engagement with the pipe 12 or similar object 60. to be engaged, whereupon the pipe or other object can be turned. In order to unscrew the pipe, the tong will be applied in a reverse direction.

In Figure 3 I have shown a slightly modi- 65 fied form of die in the jaw 4. The die is indicated at 16 and is shown as comprising a toothed segment fastened in the recess 17 by a screw 18.

Attention is called to the fact that the pivot 10 5 is ofi'set'with respect to theaxis of the pipe or other object to be engaged and that when the jaw and head partially embrace the pipe or other cylindrical object and the handle is moved toward the free outer end of the jaw, 15 the pipe is forced against the longer end of the jaw. and through the leverage exerted by the jaw, the tooth on the shorter portion of the jaw will be caused to bite into or impinge upon the pipe or rod to take a firm hold and that by reversing the swing of the head, the

tongs can he released. 19 is a stop lug to limit the swing of the aw in one direction.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is A tongs construction comprising a shank, the end of which is diverted laterally and bent back to constitute a truly hook-shaped head merging directly with the shank to engage over a pipe or other cylindrical object, a handle carried by the head, an arcuate jaw pivoted to the end of the hook-shaped head, the pivot being offset with respect to the axis of the object to be engaged and engaging means carried by the jaw.

In testimony-whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM F. MAR-TIN.

'loo 

